Date   : Wed, 08 Mar 2006 11:57:09 -0800
From   : Angus Duggan <angus_beeb@...>
Subject: Re: BBC Tube Elite

Greg Cook wrote:
> On Mon, 6 Mar 2006 12:47:19 +0000 (GMT), "F. Haroon"
> <haroonnet2002@...> wrote:
> 
>> In order to dock into the station you need a lot of patience unless
>> you
>> got Docking Computers.
> 
> Or RENT-A-DOCK at participating stations. (40 credits IIRC.)
> 
> Even then, they CRASH
> 
> I loved the algorithm:-
> 
> 1) Fly to the nearest point on the axis of the space station.
> 2) Turn towards the station.
> 3) Match the rotation rate.
> 4) Glide in...
> 
> *SCHMACK*!
> 
> By your second go you will have learned to put yourself at a lower
> altitude than the station, otherwise your Cobra will attempt to drill a
> new back door.

The beeb version had another kink that I fixed in Elite-A. While you are 
docking, it was possible for a shuttle to be launched from the station, 
causing you to crash into it and get a fugutive rating. They would then shut 
the doors of the station, so you'd crash into it. I changed it so that while 
docking computers were active, shuttles wouldn't be launched from the station.

a.